Means for maintaining equilibrium of airships and the like.



-J. L. ROCHE.

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING EQUILIBRIUM 0F AIRSHIPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1909.

1,016,363. v Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.,WAsmNu'roN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. ROCHE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH 'IO LOUIS W.FELT,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 518,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. ROCHE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chlcago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Means for MaintainingEquilibrium of Airships and the Like, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to aerial navigatlon and particularly theheavier-tl1an-air flying machines of the kind known as aeroplanes.

The object of my invention is to provide a safety ballasting device atabout the center of gravity of said machine, which, first, can bemanipulated easily and quickly, according to the spread or area of theplane or planes to be balanced, and atmospheric conditions; second, willpositively prevent any pitching or rocking or careening while n flight,and, when describing a curve, wlll prevent the presentation of toogreata surface of the planes to the opposing air currents, andavoid thepossibility of the machine turning-turtle, and third, will, in

the event of the engine or propellers refusing to work, or otheraccident happening that would aifect the propulsion of the machine,cause it to drop or glide downward in the same manner as a parachute andsettle to the earth in a horizontal position, without the possibility ofits upsetting or alighting with such force as to throw out and injure orkill its occupants. This I accomplish by the means and in the mannerhereinafter fully described, and is more particularly pointed out in theclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical front elevation, slightly in perspective, of anaeroplane of the biplane, heavier-than-air, type; the propeller, motorand rudders being omitted, to better permit the showing of the preferredform of my invention which is applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail view of a fragmental portion of my improved vertical ballast-rod,illustrating the mechanism for adjusting and locking the same. Fig. 8 isa transverse section thereof on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detailplan view of the central portion of the frame of the lower plane.

Referring to the drawings, A, A, represent, respectively, the upper andlower planes of a heavier-than-air type of flying machine, in which, forthe purpose of clearly illustrating my invention, the fore and aftsteering rudders, the motor and the propellers have been omitted. Theseplanes are of any well-known or preferred construction and do not formany part of my invention. Mounted between these planes, in a verticalupright position, at a point between their ends indicating the center ofgravity of the apparatus, is a suitable tube or hollow column 2 ofcomparatively small diameter, that extends from the lower to the upperplane, and has its ends secured in suitable bosses 3. These bosses havesuit-able plates, that are rigidly fastened to cross bars 4, 4, of theframework of said planes, by means of clips 5, or otherwise.

The material of which the upper and lower planes are constructed isperforated, in alinement with the ends of this column, 2, to permit ofthe free longitudinal vertical movement of a vertical rod, 6, whoseupper end, when at its lowermost position, is slightly above thehorizontal plane of the upper plane of the aeroplane, and is flangedoutwardly or provided with a head, 7 which, preferably, has a rubbergasket, 8, just below it, that engages and rests upon the plate of theupper boss, 3, to cushion and limit its downward movement. When at thelimit of its downward movement the lower end of rod 6, depends below thelower plane of the machine a distance of from 5 to 10 feet, and itslower portion is screwthreaded and adapted to carry, by means of nuts,9, a vertically adjustable weight or ballast 10, that can be removed,whenever desired, and replaced by a heavier or lighter one, according asmay be required by atmospheric conditions. One side of the portion ofthe rod that passes through the column is provided with a vertical rack11, which latter is engaged by a pinion, 12, that enters the columnthrough a suitable opening 13 out in the side thereof. This pinion isjournaled in a bracket, 14, secured to and arising from the side of thecolumn below said opening, and one end of its journal is extended beyondits bearings and provided with a hand-crank, 15, the turning of which inone direction or the other elevates or lowers the rod. When said rod hasbeen adjusted to its desired position, it is secured 'may be raisedorlowered, or may be removed altogether from the aeroplanes, as desired,and its adjustment is regulated according to the velocity of the windand atmospheric conditions, and the normal speed at which the machine ismoving. When pendent at the center of gravity of the machine, and thelatter is tilted slightly in describing a curve or from other causes,the ballast operates on the principle of a pendulum, and will seek itslowermost level and right the machine and resistthe influence of theconflicting elements. As the center of gravity in a heavier-than-airmachine is usually conveniently close to the aviator, he will findlittle or no difliculty in regulating this ballast.

lVhile I have described this device, in connection with a bi-planeaeroplane, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such amachine, for it is quite obvious it may be advantageously employed inconnection with a mono-plane machine, dirigible balloon, or other flyingmachine, and such application is inelu ded within the scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new is 1. An aeroplane comprising upper and lowerplanes, a pair of parallel rods connecting the front and rear edges ofeach of said planes, a plate carried by each pair of rods mediate theirends, rectangular sockets projecting from the opposing faces of saidplates,-a rectangular-shaped tubular mem- Copies of this'p atenc may beobtained for ber having its ends secured to said sockets, and anequilibrator consisting of an elongated rigid member rectangular incross section slidably mounted in said tubular member and extendingbelow said lower plane.

2. An aeroplane comprising upper and lower planes, a pair of parallelrods connecting the front and rear edges of each of said planes, a platecarried by each pair of rods mediate their ends, rectangular socketsprojecting from the opposing faces of said plates, a rectangular-shapedtubular member having its ends secured to said sockets, an equilibratorconsisting of an elongated rigid member rectangular in cross sectionslidably mounted in said tubular member and extending below said lowerplane, and means for adjusting the length of said equilibrator belowsaid plane.

3. An aeroplane comprising upper and lower planes, a pair of parallelrods connecting the front and rear edges of each of said planes, a platecarried by each pair of rods mediate their ends, rectangular socketsprojecting from the opposing faces of said plates, a rectangular-shapedtubular member having its ends secured to said sockets, an equilibratorconsisting of an elongated rod rectangular in cross section slidablymounted in said tubular member and extending below said lower plane andhaving a rack on one side thereof, and a manually operated gear engagingand actuating said rack.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day ofSeptember, 1909.

JOHN L. ROCHE.

Witnesses FRANK D. THoMAsoN, E. K. LUNDY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

